The idea of having a projector built into a mobile phone has been around for a long time, although few have dared ventured into this arena. Remember the Pomegranate concept phone that made rounds of the internet sporting a projector unit? Or the rumored Mozilla device with the same capabilities? In reality, Samsung was one manufacturer back in 2012 that ventured with a smartphone carrying a projector with its Galaxy Beam Android smartphone, and while that showed that it can be done, it didn’t go much beyond that. Today, Samsung announced the successor to this unique device, in the form of Samsung Galaxy Beam 2 Android phone.
Up until this point, the Mountain View company has been pretty clear that Glass isn’t a product for everyone - all the way from its high price point to the fact that it was impossible for the masses to get one without an invite. In fact, Google had touted the device to be for explorers primarily - people living their lives on the edge and daring to do what others usually don’t. Well, all of that is changing now, as the Glass Store has been opened to everyone interested in getting their hands on the rather expensive and catchy eyewear!
It's been almost a year since Apple's MacBook Air range was afforded a hardware upgrade, and a pretty significant upgrade it was too. The introduction of Intel's energy-efficient Haswell processor saw battery life potential increase by hours on both the 11 and 13-inch models of the ultra-thin notebook, and now, both configurations are in line for another customary bump according to a new report.
The Madame Tussauds attraction houses many waxworks of famous folks from past and present, and alongside actor Leonardo DiCaprio and pop singer Rihanna, one of tech's most recognized faces has just been unveiled at the branch in Fisherman's Wharf, San Francisco. Mark Zuckerberg, CEO and founder of the ubiquitous social network that is Facebook, has been cloned as a waxwork statue, and in-keeping with his image as the modern day, suit-less executive, he's seen sitting - without socks - in casual jeans and his trademark hoodie.
In terms of general functionality, there's little argument that Apple's iOS is playing catch-up with Android, which thanks to its open source nature, can be readily tailored to suit the individual user. One of the most popular iOS jailbreak tweaks leading up to iOS 7 was SBSettings, which allowed features like Bluetooth and Wi-Fi to be controlled with a swipe, negating the need to trawl through the Settings app. This issue has since been resolved through Apple's introduction of the Control Center, though, and if you're an Android user partial to the way this particular iOS feature is laid out, a new Play Store entry touts a similar experience.
As time rolls on and we get very closer to the inevitable iPhone 6 announcement, speculation is beginning to grow about what the brand new iPhone will look like, and what key features it will bring to Apple's product line. The current best bet scenario is that Apple will bring two new iPhones to market, one packing a 4.7-inch screen and another sporting a larger 5.5-inch display. It's that larger device that is making all the headlines right now though, thanks to an apparently leaked iPhone 6 case that seems to fit very well with the larger iPhone claims that have been prevalent for some time now.
Apple's Q2 FY14 earnings call on Wednesday revealed that the sales figures of certain products have not been as strong nor impressive as in previous years, with the iPad numbers in particular having faltered year-on-year. But given the growing number of competitors in both the tablet industry and the emerging "phablet" market, this is perhaps to be expected, and even the popularity of the all new iPad Air and iPad mini with Retina Display haven't prevented sales of the Apple slab from dipping somewhat.
Even though the initial announcement of the Galaxy S5 divided opinion among consumers and commentators alike, Samsung's new flagship appears to have settled rather well into the market. As well as reports of strong early sales in the twelve days since the handset first hit stores, reviews have generally been favorable, with one of the device's strong points being the full HD Super AMOLED display. But why is the new panel so great? Samsung has published a detailed blog post - complete with animated .gifs - explaining just what makes the new display so darned good.
Whichever way you look at it, Google Street View is a staggering example of modern technology and the world in which we live in. The Maps and Street View team at Google have accumulated photos and imagery of over six million miles' worth of road around the world, all of which is pretty much immediately accessible online through mobile or desktop browsers and native apps. That level of achievement deserves to be applauded but it seems Google isn't stopping there. In an effort to allow users to "time travel" the company is enhancing the Street View service by adding all of its archived footage to allow time lapse experiences at specific locations.
Scratching around for the most suitable case is part and parcel of being a smartphone user, but while companies have established great reputations by delivering high quality, practical and protective guards for our digital devices in their daily battle against the elements, it doesn't always have to be that serious. A new gaming-themed case for iPhone owners is a great example of what can happen when imaginations run wild, and the iDroid concept, based on a feature of Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, looks a real treat for any MGS fan.
